Simple Dynamic CMS

questions

[Andrew Thomas]

Ive just created a simple CMS, using the textarea form field, click update, add and it update the sites OK.

My client said he wants to be able to change the text size and have bullet ponts in places.

Whats the best way to achieve this?

Is it possible for him to insert the <tags> into the text area, or do you suggest him using a html editor and then copy and paste into the textarea.

This is my first (simple) CMS system, so im not sure on the best process for him to use

he also want to inser a couple of dynamic graphics on the site, what do i need to put im my Access database for the images to be called into the html?

thanx for any suggestions

[SuzyUK]

Hi Andrew, I've been exploring this same issue, with the need to cut down coding errors on the user input...still haven't answered it satisfactorily yet..

but I found an open source (1clickDB - [coveryourasp.com...] database management tool (there is a pro version too which costs)

it has a built in HTML editor for adding content in the text area, which could be useful for your purpose, it does all the usual things bold, italic, lists...etc

(I just don't like the code it produces, it doesn't fit with my XHTML compliance)

.......
Though in answer to your question you can enter tags in the text area, which is OK if the user inputting the info knows HTML, and yes you could use an editor and copy paste to text-area

I don't know what scripting you're using, but you could set up some basic codes for your client to be able to use..i.e.
if they want bold you could have them enter..

[bold]their text here[/bold]

then use a Replace(function) in your script to convert [bold] to <strong> and [/bold] to </strong>... as it pulls the text from the database

that way you could just teach your client a few codes as required

I think I may do this as I can also have the codes change to particular span class names if I want, and the user does not need to understand how this works

.........................

as for images in database I just enter the image name...eg picture.gif into the database with another field for the alt text, then when the code is required to call the details them..insert the <img src> tag and pull the information from the DB as required. This is not ideal as it requires that all pictures are the same size, but you could set up fields for the size attributes too I suppose..

There is another way to do this but I've not yet learnt that
perhaps someone else knows

:)
Suzy

edit reason; sorry the codes I entered are in use on this board...

you wouldn't need to have the full word bold in the code it could just be a b...but you can make them whatever you want....

edit: If you use asp.net there is this control too
[richtextbox.com...]

[Andrew Thomas]

Thanks very much Suzy :)

For now, i think i'll just show him a few <tags> for him to enter himself, or tell him to cut and paste.

but i'll look at 1clickdb for later sites

Andy